Islamic State Captures Major Syrian Air Base

Islamic fighters captured a major military base in Syria Sunday. Tabqa airfield is the third military base to be captured by extremists within a month.

The Islamic State fighters stormed the base Sunday, according to Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Government planes tried to counter the attack, but failed.

“Some of the Syrian regime troops pulled out, and now the Islamic State is in full control of Tabqa,” said Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman. “This makes Raqqa province the first to fully fall out of government hands.”

The SANA news agency also confirmed the air base attack, saying that troops “are successfully reassembling after evacuating the airport.”

According to reports, at least 100 Islamic State fighters were killed and about 300 were wounded. Abdurrahman said dozens of government troops were also killed on Sunday.

In July, extremists took control of the Division 17 military base in Raqqa and then a few weeks later, they captured the Brigade 93 base.

The U.N. estimated that more than 190,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

The U.S. has refused to send air raids into Syria for fear of becoming involved in the war.